Are These the Streets Bill Rodgers Trod?

Hopkinton - This is where it all began.  Here, where each year the accommodating locals allow thousands of runners, and attendant media, to intrude on their lives.

Eastward runs the course, through Ashland, Coburnville, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Beaconsville, Brookline and finally Boston, where it all ends.  There, where the Charles River washes into the Back Bay. 

The race is epic.  Mention the words Boston Marathon to any runner and watch the reaction.  Five score and 15 years ago 18 men toed the line near Metcalf’s Mill for the first Boston Marathon.  John McDermott won in 2:55:10.  This year’s edition was a scorcher.  The temperature was in the high 80s.  The road temperature reached 102.  There would be no personal bests. 

Our gang was well represented and here are a few stories.

Tim – “Not much of an experience except bad for me this year.  Came down with a stomach flu Saturday morning so thought I'd test a marathon basically without having any nutrition or fluids for two days prior....bad idea!  I went 9 miles before deciding there was no point in torturing myself for another 17 miles for a 3:30 marathon effort and dropped.  Extremely disappointing.”

Tom – “Running Boston this year was more a matter of surviving vs. running, let alone racing.  Since the start temperature was 80, I told myself I'd back off a few seconds per mile and then slow down as necessary.  I hit the half at 1:30:00, but unfortunately, by the time I realized I was suffering from the heat, it was too late.  Miles 16-26 became a survival run and I was just glad to finish.”

Jeff – “Well, it was a little hot.  I seem to have the ability to pick the “Hot” Boston Marathons to run. The last time I ran was the hot 2004 version (86 degrees), and now I have run the 2012 version (87 degrees).  Both races were torturous marches through stretches of unrelenting heat and then glorious showers from fire hydrants and hoses that were all too brief.  In both races, one had to forget any thoughts of a goal time and just try to “enjoy” the experience.  I did more high fiving, crowd acknowledgement (Wellesley College) and taking water from the little children lining the course than how I would typically do during a race.  So in that respect it was a fun experience.  Running a hot marathon though is such a challenge to stay properly hydrated, but still run fast enough to limit the amount of time on the course and not too fast so as to “die” out there.  In the end, there is great satisfaction to completing the marathon knowing that you have not only surmounted the obstacle of running for 26.2 miles but also overcome the huge challenge of running through the barriers of unrelenting heat.

To be sure, there is only one Boston Marathon.  It is definitely the grand daddy of marathons.  I will probably do it again someday… hopefully, a cool day.”

Here were our gang’s times:

Scott K. 3:12:55

Mike Q. 3:14:40

David R. 3:18:16

Jeff O. 3:23:38

Tom Norris 3:32:36

And that is how it all happened.